HB’s four territorial authorities/councils (TAs) must present their plans – either individual plans or a regional one – for managing water services to the Government by 3 September.
My takeaway from a recent Napier City Council workshop on the matter is that the process has bogged down, mainly, it appears, because of shifting guidance from the Government, which is yet to pass its final Water Services bill.
However, the Government has signaled firmly that it is expecting consolidated plans in situations like Hawke’s Bay, so it’s not clear what’s impeding our councils for getting a regional plan in shape.
The task of guiding this process was nominally given to the HB Regional Recovery Agency, but the grunt work has been delegated to NCC, with Chief Executive Louise Miller in charge.
At the NCC workshop, BayBuzz learned that our four TAs are still each doing their own financial modelling to determine the costs of providing adequate drinking water, wastewater treatment and stormwater management into the future. Presumably from a cost projection standpoint this is work required in any event, although a consolidated plan would be expected to show savings. Obviously the individual TAs’ modelling will project the costs and rates/borrowing impact of ‘going it alone’.
But, nevertheless, why not more progress on a regional plan?
Chief Executive Miller released this statement to BayBuzz:
“As the lead CE on this piece of work, I can confirm that NCC, along with the four other Hawke’s Bay Councils are still exploring a regional approach to water service delivery under the Government’s Local Water Done Well policy. As councils, we are required to consult on a preferred option as well as the status quo approach (enhanced to meet new legislation under Local Water Done Well) which is why councils are also working separately on individual water plans.
“We are currently working together with central Government and have requested a meeting with the Minister for Local Government to discuss progressing the regional approach and expect this to occur imminently. The outcome of this meeting will help determine community consultation options and timelines for councils.”
With councils needing to consult on their Annual Plans in any event come May, it would be efficient if a regional plan were on the table at that time.
Of course, given HB’s embedded local parochialism, there’s always the prospect of a ‘rogue’ public voicing loud opposition to a regional plan – e.g., constituents of 2-3 TAs in support, but others opposing. At that point, both HB’s internal politics and HB’s relationship with the Government on this matter could get quite testy!
Stay tuned!
